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Good morning father Angelo Bellon,

Could you explain to me the meaning of the letter to Galatians 3, 10-12? The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains it only in articles 578 and 580, by citing passages from the New Testament.

Thank you.

The answer from father Angelo

Dear friend,


1. First of all, we must quote the passage you’re trying to understand. Here it is: “For all who depend on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not persevere in doing all the things written in the book of the law.” And that no one is justified before God by the law is clear, for “the one who is righteous by faith will live.” But the law does not depend on faith; rather, the one who does these things will live by them” (Galatians 3, 10-12).

2. The law given to Moses was right because it demonstrated the good to be done and the evil to avoid. However, it did not give the grace and strength to abide by it. Moreover, when under the law, there was no way for man to free himself from his sins; hence the feeling of insufficiency and worthiness of punishment. That’s why Saint Paul says that those who depend on works of the law are under a punishment, a curse.

3. It is different for those who act through faith in the redemption of Christ,  even if they’re not able to accomplish all the works of the law. Therefore what saves us is the faith in Christ’s merits, he who has atoned in our place.
This faith isn’t just words but is deeply connected to all the works that Christ commanded us to do: acts of worship and works of charity.
And if we talk of acts of reparation for our sins, the first and foremost form can be found in  sacramental confession.

4. When Saint Paul says that it is faith that saves us, he refers to what can be read in the book of Habakkuk: “the just man, because of his faith, shall live” (Habakkuk 2,4). And when he says that “the law does not depend on faith” he means that the law doesn’t have the same nature of faith because it regards external acts, but not the interior disposition and faith in the merits of Christ. The mere observation of the law does not suffice to justify and therefore save men. If the righteous of the Old Testament were saved, it was for the faith they had in the coming Messiah and not only for their works, that lacked something either way.

5. Starting from this explanation the two passages from the Catechism that you cited become easier to understand. At number 578: “Jesus, Israel’s Messiah and therefore the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, was to fulfill the Law by keeping it in its all embracing detail – according to his own words, down to “the least of these commandments”. He is in fact the only one who could keep it perfectly. On their own admission the Jews were never able to observe the Law in its entirety without violating the least of its precepts. This is why every year on the Day of Atonement the children of Israel ask God’s forgiveness for their transgressions of the Law. the Law indeed makes up one inseparable whole, and St. James recalls, “Whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it” (CCC 578).

6. And at number 580: “The perfect fulfillment of the Law could be the work of none but the divine legislator, born subject to the Law in the person of the Son. In Jesus, the Law no longer appears engraved on tables of stone but “upon the heart” of the Servant who becomes “a covenant to the people”, because he will “faithfully bring forth justice”. Jesus fulfills the Law to the point of taking upon himself “the curse of the Law” incurred by those who do not “abide by the things written in the book of the Law, and do them”, for his death took place to redeem them “from the transgressions under the first covenant” (CCC 580).

7. How beautiful is this statement from the Catechism of the Catholic Church: not only Jesus fulfilled the law, but he also atoned for all our transgressions to the law. What saves us is the faith in Christ the Redeemer. But it is not a hollow faith, instead it must be accompanied by the observance of God’s commandments; that’s because “Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2, 4).

I wish for your faith to always be accompanied by the observance of divine precepts; I bless you and will pray for you.”.

Father Angelo